Everything you need for the 2026 college volleyball season. Below are the key dates for NCAA Division I women’s volleyball, from the preseason poll through the national championship, plus how the season and postseason work. We will update results and rankings here once matches begin.
2026 College Volleyball Schedule: Quick Facts
- Preseason poll: AVCA Top 25 released Aug 10, 2026.
- Season opener: AVCA First Serve, Aug 21-24, Milwaukee.
- Championship: Dec 17 & 20, 2026, Alamodome, San Antonio.
- Defending champion: Texas A&M (first title, 2025).
- Format: 64-team NCAA tournament to decide the title.
2026 Season Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2026 | Preseason AVCA Top 25 poll released |
| Aug 21-24, 2026 | AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee (season opener) |
| Aug 27-30, 2026 | Early-season classics and invitationals nationwide |
| Sep – Nov 2026 | Nonconference and conference play |
| Late Nov 2026 | Conference tournaments |
| Early-mid Dec 2026 | NCAA tournament selection and first three rounds |
| Dec 17, 2026 | National semifinals, Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Dec 20, 2026 | National championship, Alamodome, San Antonio |
How the College Volleyball Season Works
The Division I women’s season opens in late August and runs through November, mixing nonconference showcases with conference play. Conference tournaments in late November feed into the 64-team NCAA tournament, which is seeded from a selection show. Teams advance through early rounds and regionals to reach the national semifinals and final, held this year at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Defending Champion
Texas A&M enters 2026 as the reigning national champion after winning the program’s first-ever title in 2025. Traditional powers like Nebraska, Penn State, Texas, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, and Louisville are perennial contenders to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 college volleyball season start?
The season kicks off with AVCA First Serve on Aug 21-24, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, followed by classics and invitationals across the country the next weekend.
Where is the 2026 NCAA volleyball championship?
The national semifinals on Dec 17 and the final on Dec 20, 2026 are both at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Who won the 2025 NCAA volleyball championship?
Texas A&M won its first-ever national championship in the 2025 season and enters 2026 as the defending champion.
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